Share This Story!

Sen. Chuck Schumer 'worries' when it comes to Trump and facts

When Trump told congressional leaders that millions of illegal immigrants had cast ballots against him, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says no one in the room "really gave it much credence, including our Republican colleagues."

WASHINGTON — When President Trump told a bipartisan meeting of congressional leaders late Monday that millions of illegal immigrants had cast ballots against him in the November election, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says no one in the room "really gave it much credence, including our Republican colleagues."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., spoke up, telling the president there was no evidence for his assertion that illegal ballots had cost him the popular vote, a charge already debunked by fact-checkers. Schumer says the conversation at the closed-door White House meeting then moved on to other topics.

But the New York Democrat, who says he hopes to work with Trump on issues including a $1 trillion infrastructure plan unveiled by Democrats on Tuesday, told Capital Download that "I worry" about what the episode may reveal about the new president.

"Let me say this: In general you cannot run a country unless you know the facts," he told USA TODAY's video newsmaker series. "If you're going to believe your own facts, whether it's about what Putin is doing in the world or what jobs or companies are doing here, you aren't going to be able to govern, so I worry about it. ...

"President Obama said that the presidency has a sobering effect on people when they take the office, and what I'm doing is hoping and praying that that happens."

Later, White House press secretary Sean Spicer reiterated that Trump believes that he lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by nearly three million votes because of massive voter fraud. "The president ... continues to maintain that belief based on studies and evidence people have brought to him." Only when pressed did Spicer say the administration might call for an investigation. "Maybe we will," he said.

Several studies have found no evidence of widespread voter fraud. A report by the Brennan Center for Justice estimated voter-fraud rates were tiny, between 0.00004% and 0.0009%.

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), asked about Trump's assertions at Monday's meeting, told reporters he has seen "no evidence" of rampant voter fraud.

In an interview in the historic Mike Mansfield Room in the Capitol, Schumer also said Democrats were hopeful Trump would work with them on a $1 trillion, 10-year infrastructure plan that they say would create 15 million jobs. The president has vowed to enact a massive infrastructure bill, but it's not clear whether the two sides will be able to agree on how to pay for it.

Trump advisers have suggested financing an infrastructure bill using tax credits and public-private partnerships. Democrats argue that approach won't work for some of the most needed investments, saying federal spending is necessary.

Trump campaigned on a trillion-dollar infrastructure proposal, Schumer noted. "I've talked with him on the phone and I've said, 'You know, if you're just going to listen to the hard right, you're not going to get anything done.' He acknowledged that. He's going to have to work with us to get this done, and we've shown him a way to go."

While insisting Democrats' goal wasn't to put a wedge between Trump and congressional Republicans, Schumer acknowledged that might be one effect. "To get it done, he may have to break with those doctrinaire people who are out of touch with what Democrats and Republicans in America have always supported, which is the federal government should assist in building roads, highways, bridges, tunnels."

President Trump welcomes Schumer and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as he hosts a reception for congressional leaders in the State Dining Room of the White House on Jan. 23, 2017.(Photo: Ron Sachs / POOL, EPA)

On other issues, Schumer:

• Predicted the odds were "50-50" that Senate Republicans won't be able to repeal the Affordable Care Act, a signature promise by Trump and other GOP candidates. Republicans insist they want to keep the most popular provisions of the law known as Obamacare, including provisions that ensure people with pre-existing medical conditions can buy insurance. But he notes they are divided on how to achieve that and pay for it.

Defeating a budget reconciliation measure that would repeal main elements of the law requires 51 votes. In a Senate controlled by Republicans 52-48, that means Democrats would have to be united and win over three Republicans, a big task.

• Was optimistic a bipartisan proposal that would prevent Trump from lifting Russian sanctions without congressional approval would pass the Senate "with 80 or 90 votes." He and other sponsors, including Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, have asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow a vote on the proposal. "If he doesn't, we'll try to figure out procedurally how we can get a vote on it."

• Called the massive Women's March on Washington, and similar marches across the country Saturday, a sign of "the depth of worry about where this president is taking us." He said the message for Democrats was "that we have a lot of support when we try to hold the president's feet to the fire and stick with our values, more support than we ever imagined, and people are counting on us."

Schumer talks with Sens. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Ben Cardin, D-Md., on Capitol Hill on Aug. 1, 2011, as they emerged from a closed-door caucus as lawmakers worked to finalize a debt deal.
J. Scott Applewhite, AP

Schumer makes a motion that Barack Obama be chosen by acclamation as the Democratic Party's nominee for president during the Democratic National Convention in Denver on Aug. 27, 2008.
Sam Riche, USA TODAY

Schumer celebrates with fellow Democratic leaders at the Hyatt Regency hotel on Capitol Hill on Nov. 7, 2006, as Democrats took control of Congress in the midterm elections.
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

Schumer gestures during a news conference on June 2, 2004, in which he called on the Department of Justice inspector general to investigate how U.S. prison officials with checkered records were selected to oversee the reconstituting of the Iraqi prison system.
Evan Vucci, AP

Hillary Clinton, U.S. Virgin Island Del. Donna Christian-Christensen and Schumer pose for a photograph on Sept. 6, 2002, during a joint meeting of Congress in Federal Hall on Wall Street in remembrance of the victims and heroes of Sept. 11, 2001.
Tim Dillon, USA TODAY

Schumer and Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan look at a map of the New York City subway system on Sept. 9, 1999, during a Capitol Hill news conference in which they voiced their opposition to proposed cuts to mass transit funds in the transportation appropriations bill.
George Bridges, AP

Schumer gives a thumbs-up to New York state legislators on April 8, 1998, at the New York state Capitol in Albany, N.Y., after he announced that he would seek the Democratic nod for U.S. Senate.
Jim McKnight, AP